Brake control mechanism



May 8, 1951 u. LILLARD BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1950 m m T 0 EL VL N L n a 6 1 U.

HTTORNEYS,

y 1951 u. LILLARD BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1950 2 $3 & m n v T a NL El V u mz n a M U Y B A llV/l/l/l/I/IA VTTORNEYS.

Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a brake control mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide efficient means, operated by the accelerator pedal, to easily control applying the brakes of a motor vehicle, or for controlling the release of the brakes after they have been applied.

This invention is intended primarily for use on automobiles, trucks, busses, etc., having auto,- matic clutch and transmission, and it is believed it will be quite practical when used in vehicles having conventional clutch and transmission. Advantages of this invention can readily be seen when considering the difficulty of operating a motor vehicle when forced to stop on an upgrade, or the inconvenience of transferring attention from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal when driving in congested trafiic.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a brake control mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the mechanism as it appears when the motor vehicle is running or traveling over the roadway.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the mechanism, showing particularly the valve device thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the rheostat device which may be substituted in place of the valve device of this mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, I designates a floor board and 2 is the floor mat thereon. An accelerator pedal 3 is pivotally mounted at 4 upon the floor mat and floor board.

A valve device 4 is fastened to the under face of the floor board I and will be hereinafter specifically described. This valve device 4 constitutes broadly controlling means. The rheostat device 5 in Figure 4, also constitutes controlling means.

A pipe 6 is in communication with the interior of valve casing I, and this pipe 6 is a power source of the mechanism. A pipe 8 is the means of connecting the mechanism to the brake operating mechanism (not shown). Pipe 8 is in communication with a two-way pipe 9, Fig. 3. One of the branches of pipe 9 opens into the channel In of the valve casing l. The other branch of the pipe 9 opens into the channel I l of valve casing l. The power source pipe 6 is adapted to discharge into channel II when the passage I3 of the valve [4 registers therewith. In Figure 3 the valve I4 is shown in a closed position, with no power being supplied thereto by means of pipe 6. The valve I4 is fixed to a plunger I5. Plunger l5 extends through sleeve I6, which sleeve is secured in the end of the valve casing I. The plunger I5 extends beyond the sleeve I6 and has on its outer end a fixed disc ll. Another disc I8 is against the outer end of the sleeve l6, and on plunger I5 is a coil spring l9; spring I9 is between the disc l1 and disc l8.

A brake and carburetor rod 20 is slidably mounted in the floor board I and floor mat 2 and bears at its outer end against the under face of the accelerator pedal 3. On the rod 20 is fixed an arm 2I. A lug 22 is secured to the inner face of the arm 2|, and a lug 23 is secured to the under face of floor board I. A primary return spring 24 is fastened at one end to lug 22 and at its other end to lug 23. is mounted on arm 2!, and on this screw 25 is a nut 26 that acts to lock the screw 25 in an adjusted position upon arm 2I. The inner end of screw 25 is adapted to press against disc I! and thereby force valve l4 inwardly to cause the channel or port I3 to register with the power source 6 whereupon the brakes will be applied. When the operator presses upon pedal 3 the screw 25 will move away from disc [1, as shown in Figure 2, whereupon the spring I9 will cause the valve I4 to take the position shown in Figure 3, that will result in the power contained in pipe 8 to be exhausted at 21, Figure 3.

The rod 28 is slidably mounted in a tube 28, which tube is fixedly mounted on bracket 29. Bracket 29 is suitably mounted on the frame or chassis of a motor vehicle. 011 the rod 34 is a return stop 39, which is fixedly secured to said rod. A stud 3| is fastened near the upper end of pipe or tube 28, and an auxilliary spring 32 is An adjusting screw 25 mounted on stop 30 and stud 3!. This spring 32, like spring 24, is provided with a coil 33. The spring 24 is stronger than the coil spring l9 or coil spring 59.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the pressure on the accelerator pedal 3 is released to the point of engine idling speed, the brake and carburetor rod 28 disengages from the carburetor operating rod 34 and further releases of pressure control only the extent of power used in application of the brakes. As shown in the drawings the carburetor operating rod 34 is drawn upwardly when pressure is released on the accelerator pedal 3 by return spring 32. This upward movement is arrested at the point of engine idling speed by the return stop 30 coming in contact with the lower end of tube 28, while the rod 20 disengages from operating rod 34 and continues to be drawn upwardly on further release of foot pressure, by return spring 24. It is to be understood that there are two rods 20 and 34 that have their inner ends in tube 28.

The rheostat (Fig. 4) consists of a tube 35, with a flanged base 36 having holes 3? through which screws or bolts may be driven to secure the device to support on floor board I. Inserted in the base end of the tube 35 is a bearing 38, having a centrally located bearing surface tubular in form to accept, guide and support shaft 39. At the upper end of tube 35 is a shorter bearing Bil, but otherwise similar in construction to bearing 38. Within tube 35 and fastened on and about shaft 39 is a drum of non-conducting material 4 l. Wrapped around a portion of drum M is a coil of resistance wire 42. The end of coil 42 nearer base of tube 35 terminates in the drum :3 I, leaving a portion of the drum 4! bare through which no current can flow. Upper end of coil 42 terminates in an electrical connection with a length of flexible wire 43, which in turn makes electrical connection with a terminal post 4 properly insulated from tube 35 and permitting connection of the device with brake operating mechanism by means of a wire c5. Current is introduced to coil 42 by means of a roller contact 46 attached to a conductor spring til. Spring 41 is attached to a terminal 48 which is properly insulated from tube 35, permitting connection of the device to a source of electricity by wire 49. Drum 41, coil 42, and shaft 39 are actuated by expanding spring 50 placed around shaft 39 between the inner or top end of tube 35 and retainer 5 I, which retainer 5| is fastened to the upper or outer end of shaft 39.

In Figure 4 the parts are shown as when the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed enough to bring the motor above idling speed. The operating arm 2! on the rod has moved away from the shaft 39 allowing the spring 50 to draw the shaft 39 upward until stopped by the collar 52, contacting the bearing 40. The contact roller 46 touches only the non-conduting material of the drum 4| so that no current flows through the device. Releasing the accelerator pedal 3 would cause the action of spring 5!! to be overcome and the shaft 39, drum 4| and coil 42 would be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A. This movement would bring the roller 46 into contact with the coil 42, closing the circuit but limiting the flow of current by resistance of the coil 42. As the movement progresses because of further release of accelerator pedal 3 less and less of the coil 42 is utilized, thus increasing the flow of current and consequent pressure of the brakes.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of the invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates durin the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a floor board, of an accelerator pedal mounted upon said floor board, a brake rod slidably mounted on said floor board and nor mally bearing against said accelerator pedal, a bracket provided with a tube, one end of said rod extending into said tube, a carburetor operating rod extending into said tube and being adapted to engage said brake rod, said tube provided with a stud, said carburetor operating rod provided with a stop, a spring mounted on said stud and on said stop, said brake rod provided with a fixed arm, a stud on said fixed arm, a stud on said floor board, a spring mounted on the stud of said arm and on the stud of said fioor board, controlling means mounted on said floor board, a source of power connected to said controlling means, means connected to said controlling means and also to brake means, said controlling means including a plunger, a coil spring mounted on said plunger, said arm provided with means for compressing said coil spring when said accelerator pedal is released, and said compress-- ing means including an adjusting screw for regulating the amount of pressure to be exerted upon said coil spring.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a floor board, of controlling means carried by said floor board, said controlling means including a tube, a slidable shaft extending into said tube, a drumin said tube and fixedly secured to said shaft, a portion of said drum being left bare and a portion of said drum provided with a coil, a roller within said tube and normally bearing upon the bare portion of said drum, means supporting said roller upon said tube, a flexible wire extending from said coil, a coil spring on said shaft outside of said tube, said shaft provided on its outer end with a retainer, said coil spring hearing at its outer end against said retainer, an accelerator pedal secured to said floor board, and means cooperating with said accelerator pedal and said retainer for pressing upon said retainer and actuating said shaft when pressure is removed from said accelerator pedal to permit said pedal to rest in an inactive position.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a floor board, of an accelerator pedal mounted upon said floor board, a brake rod mounted on said floor board and normally bearing against said accelerator pedal, a tube, one end of said rod extending into said tube, a carburetor operating rod extending into said tube and being adapted to engage said brake rod, said tube provided with spring attaching means, said carburetor operating rod provided with a stop, a spring mounted on said spring attaching means and on said stop, said brake rod provided with a fixed arm, spring attaching means on said fixed arm, spring attaching means on said floor board, a spring mounted on the spring attaching means of said arm and on the spring attaching means of said floor board, controlling means mounted on said floor board, a source of power connected to said controlling means, means connected to said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Badertscher July 16, 1929 Shannon June 2, 1931 Perrot Oct. 13, 1931 Topp Feb. 16, 1932 Lormuller May 24, 1932 Lippert July 3, 1934 Sanford Feb. 21, 1939 Freeman May 14, 1940 

